Pushy neighbor obsessed with ocean view and my tree—how do I handle him?

[WhiteSteve]

Yeah, yeah, what’s up, back for a second, don’t get used to me, I’m still sick of y’all, lmao. Here’s one I’ll throw out to the masses though…

My house has a very nice ocean view. We used to have a wooded lot between our property and our next neighbor. But someone bought it about five years ago, razed it, and built on it. It’s actually a lot like my house in its appearance, except they have a front porch.

New couple moved in, in their 50s, kids left for college. The guy, Keith, is real nice but he’s OBSESSED with getting trees removed across the street to open up his view, which is diagonal to the ocean, with trees and houses directly across from him. Meanwhile ours is dead on and elevated over the houses across from us.

He petitions neighbors across the way to remove trees, or pounces on departing owners the second a For Sale sign goes up, then tries to get those of us on our side of the street to help pay. My dad won’t, and it’s a great source of resentment for my dad. He thinks Keith is audacious to move in and immediately start a tree removal pressure campaign.

Keith’s view has gone from a peek of the ocean to a pretty damn nice view. We’ve benefitted as well, but we were already great, and we don’t care, and honestly would rather have some trees.

Anyway, there’s ONE tree that was on our side of the property line that Keith wants gone (it’s in the way, but not catastrophic) but it’s the hill my dad wants to die on. I’ve promised Keith I’ll remove it when my dad is gone, on my dime; just chill and stop asking my dad about trees, he’s 94. Keith has pruned without our permission before, so I already had to talk my dad out of putting up arbor vitae out of spite, to fuck up his view. He has the catalogue and everything, lmao.

Today, Keith texts me claiming the tree has carpenter ants, it’s a safety issue, and can he please remove it. Now I kinda want to kill this guy, lmao.

How do I handle? I want to tell him about the arbor vitae, not sure if I should😅😂

[exitseven]

@WhiteSteve I was thinking about you the other day. Glad you are okay.

I had ( I just sold it) a vacation house on an island in Maine. It had many giant oak trees. A cluster of them is on the border of my property and the witch that lives next door. If one of these trees gets blown down during a storm it will take out my house and the shade from the trees causes my roof to get covered in moss.

I wanted to have them all removed but she came running out of the house and told the tree guy to stop which he did. He did not want to get in the middle of it.

I had my attorney send her a letter stating that she knows that the trees are a hazard and will be responsible if one of her trees ends up falling on my house.

I would tell this guy to fuck off and if he doesn't I would erect a huge billboard just high enough so that he cannot see the ocaen.

[NathanDavis]

I really don't like the part in which they're irking pops... lol

just... send a copy of that catalogue to Keith, and tell him that he gets to choose, which one of those are going to block his view for a bit while if he keeps... about it

and I think that's a very nice compromise... being nice about it

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

Well, basically tree removal is expensive. Is he offering to pay for it? If not, he can whine all he wants. Second, tell him if he touches your tree again you will be talking to your lawyer. Third, even if he meets the first two things, then there is still no obligation for you to do it. You don't owe him a good view.

[Anonymous]

Have a similar problem with a pushy lesbian couple that moved in last year.

[Maybe_Maybe_not]

• "Yeah, yeah, what’s up"

Heat wave until Saturday 🌵

• "I’m still sick of y’all"

Mean 🫤

[msc545]

I think you handle this with a restraining order or the equivalent before this guy goes out there with a chainsaw. One night cuts the tree down and there's not much you can do about it after the fact.

[Twodogs0525]

My answer is, watch a few episodes of "Fear Thy Neighbor", and give it a lot of clear, careful thought.

[DryGermanGuy]

I would tell the guy to pound sand and casually remark that his actions are bordering on elder abuse.